Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his regular late-night address on Sunday that investigators working in the southern Kherson region had uncovered more than 400 “war crimes” committed by Russian forces.
Moscow had announced the withdrawal from the city of Kherson. The withdrawal represents a major setback for Russia, as it was the only regional capital it had captured since it began invading Ukraine in February.
While there are still Russian forces in the Kherson region, the Ukrainian army has reported recapturing several towns as well as the capital, Kherson.
“In the Kherson region, the Russian army left behind the same atrocities as in other regions of our country it managed to penetrate,” said Zelenskyy, adding that the bodies of Ukrainian civilians and troops were found in Kherson.
“We will find every murderer and bring them to justice. Without a doubt,” he added.
Several Western leaders have accused Russia of committing war crimes after seeing the destruction in regions following Moscow’s withdrawal. Ukrainian officials have also reported finding mass graves in these areas.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is currently investigating possible war crimes by Russian forces in Ukraine.
Celebrations in Kherson amid desolation and danger
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Here are the other headlines from the war in Ukraine on Sunday November 13th
Ending the war is ‘the best thing we can do for the world economy’ – US Treasury Department
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told a G20 meeting in Indonesia that ending the war in Ukraine was the “best” thing that could be done for the global economy.
“Ending Russia’s war is a moral imperative and the best we can do for the global economy,” Yellen said.
Soaring fuel and food prices, caused in part by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, are one of the main topics of discussion at the G20 summit.
Scholz regrets Putin’s G20 snub
Chancellor Olaf Scholz said it was a pity that Russian President Vladimir Putin was not attending next week’s G20 summit in Indonesia.
In his speech in Hanoi, Vietnam, Scholz said Putin had to face heavy criticism of his war in Ukraine.
“He should have faced all the questions and all the criticism that is being formulated by many countries around the world. That’s probably why he’s not here.”
Scholz and other leaders of the G20 group of advanced economies will meet for a two-day summit on Tuesday on the Indonesian island of Bali.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is to make a video speech for them.
Putin canceled his participation a few days ago and is now being represented by his Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
Demining in Kherson underway
Authorities in the city of Kherson worked to restore critical infrastructure on Sunday after Moscow announced its troops had withdrawn from the strategic city.
Yaroslav Yanushevich, the governor of the Kherson region, was quoted by the media as saying that Russian troops had “dismantled all critical infrastructure objects”.
Zelenskyy said on Sunday that one was killed and four injured during demining operations. The President urged residents to “be very careful and notify rescuers immediately of any dangerous objects.”
According to the head of Ukraine’s state railways, train service to Kherson should resume this week, but another regional official, Yuriy Sobolevskyy, told Ukrainian TV that the humanitarian situation “remains very difficult”.
“Most of the houses have no electricity, no water and problems with the gas supply,” Sobolevskyy said.
Russia calls for advance in Donetsk, Ukraine reports strikes in several regions
The Russian Defense Ministry said its soldiers took the village of Majorsk in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region.
There was no immediate comment from Ukraine, but the Ukrainian army previously reported that fierce fighting was ongoing in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
According to the Ukrainian general staff, Russian rocket and artillery fire hit the eastern regions of Bakhmut, Avdiivka, Novopavlivka and Zaporizhia.
Ukrainian officials say Russian troops stole raccoons and other animals
The founder of an animal rights movement in Ukraine said Russian forces stole animals from a local zoo in Kherson.
“They brought most of the zoo’s collection to Crimea: from llamas and wolves to donkeys and squirrels,” said Oleksandr Todorchuk, founder of UAnimals, on Facebook.
According to local media, a Moscow-backed official in Crimea had ordered the “evacuation” of animals.
A raccoon, allegedly among the “stolen” animals, drew particular attention on social media, with Ukrainians posting memes calling for its release, such as “Save Private Raccoon,” a reference to the multi-award-winning war film Saving Private Ryan.
The Odessa Zoo provides shelter for animals
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Ukrainian Railways offer symbolic tickets for occupied cities
After Kherson’s liberation, Ukrainian railways offer token tickets to cities still under Russian control.
The tickets, which cost around 1,000 hryvnia (US$27.40), can be used after the cities are liberated.
“Today you can order tickets for the first three trains from Kyiv to five cities: the already occupied Kherson, as well as Mariupol, Donetsk, Luhansk and Simferopol,” the rail operator said via Telegram messaging apps.
“The ticket can be bought, kept as a symbol of belief in the armed forces and liberation of Ukraine from the occupiers,” it said. “Once traffic is restored, rail officials will send a message with the date and location.”
Sledgehammer execution of former Russian mercenary uploaded to social media
A video has been circulating on Russian social media purporting to show the execution of a former Russian mercenary who switched sides in what pro-Russian bloggers have described as revenge for his alleged betrayal.
The unconfirmed video shows the man posing as 55-year-old Yevgeny Nuzhin. He claims to now support Ukraine in the war.
He said he was kidnapped in Kyiv on October 11 and taken to a basement.
“I got hit on the head and passed out and I passed by this basement,” he said. “They told me I should be brought to justice.”
The footage shows Nuzhin’s head taped to a brick wall and as he speaks an unidentified man loitering behind him in combat fatigues smashes a sledgehammer into the side of his head and neck.
Nuzhin collapsed to the ground and the unidentified man hit him on the head again.
It was also unclear how Nuzhin, who told Ukrainian media in September that he wanted to fight for Ukraine, ended up in the hands of what appear to be Russian forces.
mm, fb/aw (AFP, AP, dpa, Interfax, Portal)